Fresh iPhone Games for Mar. 8: JellyCar 3 update, Lars, Flick Ninjas

Physics puzzler and 2D squishy driving game JellyCar 3 has just received a content update that packs more customization options to let players personalize their jelly cars, plus two new cars to boot. It tops today’s Fresh Games list, but we’ve also got a couple of 8-bit platformers for the retro gamers out there. Take […]

Physics puzzler and 2D squishy driving game JellyCar 3 has just received a content update that packs more customization options to let players personalize their jelly cars, plus two new cars to boot. It tops today’s Fresh Games list, but we’ve also got a couple of 8-bit platformers for the retro gamers out there. Take a look.

JellyCar 3 update (iPhone iPad) $0.99

Drive a squishy car over squishy 2D side-scrolling environments in this physics puzzler, in attempts to find the stop sign at the end of each level as quickly as possible. And while you’re puttering around each stage, take a look around for each level’s secret exit, which can be a real challenge and turns each level into two levels. Follow a ghost racer to try to beat your best times, or rewind time when you mess up to fix your mistakes. You can also customize your JellyCar.

Speaking of customization, JellyCar 3’s first big update includes more car customization options and two more cars to go with them — a muscle jelly car and a jelly van. You can import and export custom car designs to your device’s picture roll, so you can share your work with others. There are also three new levels and a sneak peek at the next JellyCar update, a level pack called Time and Space.

Lars (iPhone, iPad) $1.99

Itching for a Mario-style 8-bit platformer fix? You’ve got it in Lars, an old-school platforming game in which you play Lars, a secret agent lizard guy who swims, jumps, collects coins and squashes bad guys by landing on them or kicking coconuts in their general directions.

You get 60 levels of retro gameplay and various enemies to squash. If you’ve played Nintendo Entertainment System and Super Nintendo games over the years, Lars should be familiar, fun territory.

Flick Ninjas (iPhone, iPad) $0.99

How about another 2D side-scrolling platformer with old-school graphics? If you’re still game, give Flick Ninjas a go — it’s a platformer like Lars, but instead of controlling your ninja with virtual buttons, everything is done by flicking your thumb over the screen. You can send your ninja running, bounding through the air, and even wall-jumping off obstacles in his path with just a flick, as you try to collect coins and pass each level as quickly as possible.

You get 30 levels when you download Flick Ninjas, plus OpenFeint support for 28 achievements and a ton of leaderboard information. You also have some control options: you can flick your ninja, or hold your thumb down and trigger a power meter that lets you determine which direction to send him in, and how fast and far.

Phil Hornshaw is a freelance writer, editor and author living in Los Angeles, dividing his time between playing video games, playing video games on his cell phone, and writing about playing video games. He’s also the co-author of So You Created a Wormhole: The Time Traveler’s Guide to Time Travel, which attempts to mix time travel pop culture with some semblance of science, as well as tips on the appropriate means of riding dinosaurs. Check out his Google+ profile.